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The Toronto Maple Leafs are hoping to continue a number of streaks as they return home to play the Los Angeles Kings at Scotiabank Arena. The club has earned at least one point in their last 12 games (9-0-3), went 5-0-1 on the road over the last two weeks, and is looking to extend Mitch Marner’s consecutive game point streak to 21 games.
The key to the Leafs success has been their excellent defensive play without defensemen Morgan Rielly, TJ Brodie, and Jake Muzzin, allowing only 24 goals over the last 12 games.
Toronto’s record at home is a respectable 8-2-3, but they have lost four of their last seven at Scotiabank Arena (three to Vegas, New Jersey, and the NY Islanders in overtime, and in regulation to Pittsburgh).
After an impressive 44-save shutout performance in Dallas on Tuesday, Matt Murray will get the night off against the Kings and Ilya Samsonov (7-2-0, 2.09 GAA, .924 save percentage) will be in goal for the Leafs. The big news for Toronto is the return of Brodie after missing 12 games with an oblique injury.
"(I) may be a little bit (ahead of schedule), but the whole time it was based on how I felt. If it was getting worse or getting better each day, so that was the approach we took." Brodie said after the morning skate. "(The injury) has been good the last couple of days. So, hopefully, it will continue tonight."
Brodie replaces Victor Mete in the lineup and will play the left side on the bottom pairing with Conor Timmins, with the other tandems of Mark Giordano – Justin Holl, and Rasmus Sandin – Timothy Liljegren remaining intact.
Mete suffered a lower-body injury in the first period of the 4-0 victory over the Stars on Tuesday and is expected to be out at least a week. Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe had no update on the status of Rielly, who suffered a knee injury against the Islanders on November 21, other than to say that the veteran blueliner has not skated. Based on the four-to-six-week diagnosis, Rielly will be out until at least the NHL Christmas break and could be as long as after the New Year.
The club announced that forward Semyon Der-Argushintsev has been returned to the AHL Toronto Marlies to make room for Brodie being activated from injured reserve. Keefe indicated that the only lineup change vs. LA will be Denis Malgin replacing Der-Argushintsev on the fourth line and that Wayne Simmonds will be in the lineup on Saturday against Calgary.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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